De la Martinique aux pages scientifiques: la première publication de Nicolas Vachon

Nicolas Vachon, finissant à la maîtrise en océanographie à l’UQAR-ISMER, vient de publier son premier article scientifique, dirigé par la professeure et membre du RAQ, Céline Audet, et co-dirigé par le chercheur industriel et membre du RAQ, Benjamin de Montgolfier.

Cette publication vient conclure un projet de recherche de trois ans en Martinique portant sur le poisson-lion (Pterois volitans), une espèce envahissante reconnue pour ses impacts écologiques importants.

Le projet a bénéficié du soutien de plusieurs partenaires financiers : ODE Martinique (Office de l’Eau), DEAL Martinique, Parc naturel marin de Martinique, Office français de la biodiversité, CRSNG, ainsi que Ressources Aquatiques Québec.

Bravo à Nicolas Vachon pour cette première publication de maîtrise ! Découvrez son travail et lisez l’article complet ici : https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10641-025-01751-2

Résumé: The lionfish complex (Pterois sp.) are invasive marine fishes that were introduced into the western Atlantic in the mid-1980s. The colonization of ecosystems by lionfish causes significant damage to fish communities and reef ecosystems. Management efforts to attenuate the effects of fish invasion depend on the population dynamics and reproduction of lionfish, but these parameters vary depending on the study location and environmental conditions. The objective of this study was to describe the lionfish’s reproduction cycle in Martinique by studying annual variations in gonadosomatic index (GSI), gonad maturation, and concentrations of sex steroids. It was expected that lionfish could reproduce year-round, with no seasonality. Lionfish, ranging in size from 7.5 to 42.3 cm (n = 453), were sampled over a 15-month period from May to July 2021 and from September 2021 to September 2022 off the west coast of Martinique. Histological observations indicated the presence of sexually mature males and females throughout the year, and we found that concentrations of sex steroids and GSI for both sexes were high enough to allow for year-round spawning. There were no seasonal differences in sex steroid concentrations, but increased female GSI values in March indicated that greater reproductive activity may occur in the spring. This study provides important insights into the population dynamics of lionfish in Martinique, which is essential for developing management strategies for this invasive species complex.